British troops in Afghanistan have paid a "high price" but their efforts have been a success, Prime Minister David Cameron has said on a pre-Christmas visit to UK bases in the country.

There have been more than 400 deaths since 2001 but the UK presence has cut the number of terrorist plots, he said.

The prime minister played table football and attended a carol service with troops in Helmand province.

Troop numbers will nearly halve to 5,200 in 2013, he announced this week.

On his traditional seasonal visit to troops, Mr Cameron toured Camp Bastion and was taken by helicopter to the smaller Camp Price operating base about 20 miles (32km) away.

All Nato operations are due to finish by the end of 2014, with responsibility being transferred to Afghan forces.

And Mr Cameron suggested the Afghans are acquiring the "capability" to take charge of security.

"This is withdrawal. This is draw-down based on success not on failure," he said.

"We're confident it can be done while making sure Afghanistan does not return to become a haven of terrorism, which is of course why we came here in the first place."

He added: "We have paid a very heavy price but I think the reason for coming here in the first place, which was to stop Afghanistan being a haven for terror... I think it was the right decision."

Equipment boost

David Cameron plays table football with Royal Marines at Forwarding Operating Base Price

At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said that almost half of the current force serving in Helmand province are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan next year.

Troop numbers are already being reduced from 9,500 to 9,000 before Christmas. And numbers would fall to about 5,200 by the end of 2013, he said.

A small number of British troops would remain in the country beyond that, working at an officer training academy and "involved in returning equipment and dealing with logistics," Mr Cameron added.

But during his visit to Afghanistan, government officials promised an extra £230m from Treasury reserves will be spent on military kit to see the campaign through.

The funding includes £29m for additional bomb detectors; a £10m upgrade for armed vehicles; more military dogs for foot patrols and a £5m boost intelligence for surveillance and reconnaissance at Camp Bastion.

Posted Dec-20-2012 By

Nepean109

@Nepean109 that happened in Pakistan by Pakistani Taliban. Non the less extremism can only be fought with consciousnesses, not bullets. Most of Afghanistan don't like the Taliban which means they will never "win" like always. Many Afghans have died fighting the Taliban.

Posted Dec-21-2012 By

markymark69

So what's been achieved in the last 11 years? - apart from the deaths of US/UK, other European personnel, as well as Australia and New Zealand? - not forgetting Afghan civilians too? - oh yeah, big bucks for the arms manufacturers and politicians. Sickening.

Posted Dec-20-2012 By

mericanborn

@mericanborn "right side of it" lol Afghans never bombed you, you paved the road for yourself. You guys made extremists in Afghanistan and you pay for it. How do you guys like Libya killing your ambassador for you guys "liberated" them. Right side? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Stay out of peoples business, stop being so insecure and spread love instead of missiles.

Posted Dec-20-2012 By

Usafhk

@Usafhk Afganistan didn't bomb us, but its tollerance to the taliban and other extremist groups made it a guilty bystander. So they were given the choice, help us or get out of the way, and those that did neither. Again guilty bystanders. The previous wars left you guys so fucked it is no wonder we had to come sort shit out. And now that we have tried.....and tried....like i said, invite us back again.

Posted Dec-21-2012 By

markymark69

Comment of user 'Sean4u' has been deleted by author (after account deletion)!

Comment of user 'rafaelcastelar' has been deleted by author (after account deletion)!

@rafaelcastelar why are you still talking as if anyone cares about what you have to say? all of your comments are -1'd and i love how to make the effort to capitalize and and make your final comment red, you're making an effort for the people you apparently don't support.

honestly, i would pay to smash your face in, ignorant cock sucker.

Posted Dec-21-2012 By

holapola

Comment of user 'nomadlife' has been deleted by author (after account deletion)!

@nomadlife to mentor and train afghan police/army to so they can provide their own security to prevent it becoming a safe heaven for terrorists to plan attacks on the west again. that's a pretty dam good reason if you ask me.

Posted Dec-21-2012 By

Travis1991

Comment of user 'DirtyUncleBerty' has been deleted by author (after account deletion)!

Comment of user 'nomadlife' has been deleted by author (after account deletion)!

The only reason we went to Afghanistan was to get bin laden and his follower's. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! Sorry the taliban ( LOSERS ) thought they could take on the west and kick us out and in the scuffle some afghans got caught in the crossfire. Can't wait until the only people that gave a shit about the rights and freedoms of the afghan women and children leave that shit hole. Let them go back to allowing their country to be run by drug lords, religious fanatics and terrorist. When the west leaMore..ves so will their elected leaders because they have already stole all the money the US and others have invested in their rebuilding. You can raise a kid, feed it and when it becomes a goat lead it to water, but you can't make it drink.Less..

Posted Dec-23-2012 By

Omniscient

@Omniscient What free speach not allowed on Liveleak. OH RIGHT!! It's the USSR. The taliban attacked us first. They didn't want the US to stop them from terrorizing the Afghan people. They might not be able grow and sell their opium. And no we didn't destroy them but you think we couldn't. At any time. They got their asses kicked though, so much that now they want a place in the government. If they would have done that in the first place we would have left years ago. You were the one's that losMore..t.Less..